Results 9,721-9,740 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Mental Health Services (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The support and wellbeing of our students is one of my priorities, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. In 2020, I secured a comprehensive package of financial supports for the Higher Education and Further Education and Training sector to mitigate against the direct financial impact of Covid-19. This package included funding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Science Foundation Ireland (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Science Foundation Ireland does not receive applications for PhD positions. The agency funds research grants, following international peer review, the budget for which often includes funding for PhD positions. SFI does not have sight of the number of applications made by candidates to Higher Education Institutions for PhD positions. SFI monitors the number of PhD students funded through SFI...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: As my Department was established relatively recently, my officials are continuing to finalise arrangements for the operation of a variety of corporate and support functions, including though the progression of a shared service agreement with the Department of Education. The arrangements being put in place will ensure that a number of central corporate services, including for example resources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: There are currently no Acts falling under my Department which have been signed into law but have not yet commenced. However, under the Student Support Act 2011, sections 8(3) and 16(5) have not yet commenced.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research Funding (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 767 together. My Department has engaged with a range of stakeholders with respect to the promotion of all-island research collaboration between higher education institutions. This also includes engagement with the Shared-Island Unit of the Department of the Taoiseach. I have received a proposal from the Irish Humanities Alliance with respect...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Issues (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Student grant legislation was amended in 2020 to retain the status quo for students attending courses in the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students. All students eligible for the scheme receive state support whereby the Exchequer pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution. The contribution applies annually to all FFI eligible studentsand the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I am aware that issues have arisen in relation to placement hours both for students of Social Care programmes and for placements more generally as the restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 have tightened. My Department is monitoring developments in this regard very closely. From the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: The details sought by the Deputy, in regard to dedicated email addresses for both my Department and in regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, are contained in the tables below. Contact E-Mail Addresses for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Minister_FHERIS@dfheris.gov.ie Contact E-Mail...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As higher education institutions are autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of the allocated funding, including any expenditure on the items queried by the Deputy,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: There have been a total of 16 applications for Protected Disclosures made between 2017 and 2020 and to date in 2021. This figure relates to Protected Disclosures that were disclosed to the Minister under Section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act from workers in the Education sector. 12 applications were deemed to come under the ambit of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. No...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: In accordance with Section 22 of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014, my Department published information on protected disclosures received during 2017, 2018 and 2019 on the Department of Education website:  www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Ann ual-Report/. No protected disclosures have been received from Department officials or retired officials from 2017 to-date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Under the Department's Student Grant Scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2020. Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The means test...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) expressed as a percentage of GDP/GNP/GNI* stood at an estimated 1.13%, 1.47% and 1.88% respectively in 2019. The OECD defines GERD as the total expenditure (current and capital) on R&D carried out by all resident companies, research institutes, university and government laboratories, etc., in a country. It includes R&D funded from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Progressing disability services, and ensuring that people with disabilities can participate in further and higher education, is an important priority of my Department. In terms of access to higher education, the National Access Plan (NAP) has set targets to increase participation in higher education by people with disabilities. Specific targets have been set to increase participation in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Project Ireland 2040 signals Exchequer investment of €2.2 billion in Ireland's higher education infrastructure over the period to 2027. There are a number of ongoing higher education investment programmes including: - Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which is co-funding five projects, four in the university sector and one in an IoT. The Fund has a focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (25 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: Is doiciméad ardleibhéil é an Ráiteas Straitéise ina leagtar béim ar spriocanna straitéiseacha don Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta. I gcomhréir leis an gcur chuige seo, ní thagraítear go sonrach do mhórchuid de ghníomhaíochtaí agus de thosaíochtaí na...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Support Services (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: While neither I nor my officials have engaged with the company, I am aware that Kerry Group issued a proposed collective redundancy notice on 4th March in respect of 150 positions which, if following consultation it is not possible to avoid, will take effect across two locations between October 2021 and February 2022.  Clearly the potential loss of these jobs is most regrettable and I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1107 and 1164 together. While Ireland is on Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID all further and higher education institutions will deliver the majority of their classes online with only essential activities held on site.  While it is appreciated that the COVID impacts are disappointing for students who had hoped to have as much time on campus as...